Mooney Goes Wild

One of our listeners, Bernadette Murphy from Kildavin, Co. Carlow, sent us in this remarkable photo of two crab spiders on an oxeye daisy in her garden. Bernadette talks to Éanna about these chameleon-like creepy-crawlies.

Duration:00:05:04

Asiatic Lion cubs in Fota Wildlife Park

Our roving reporter, biologist Terry Flanagan, travelled to Fota Wildlife Park in Co. Cork for tonight’s programme. Terry was there to report on the recent birth of three male Asiatic Lion cubs.

Duration:00:14:10

Why are plant species so distinctive and readily identifiable?

Co-editor of Wings magazine, Cóilín MacLochlainn had a fascinating botanical question for Dr. Matthew Jebb of the National Botanic Gardens, about Why are plant species so distinctive and readily identifiable?

Duration:00:30:10

A weeping olive tree?

We are absolutely delighted to be joined from his home studio Dr. Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. It gave Derek the perfect opportunity to ask about a curious observation regarding an olive tree growing in a pot in his father’s back yard in Dublin.

Duration:00:01:59

Mooney Goes Wild

Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Matthew Jebb and Reporter Terry Flanagan. Topics up for discussion include; a weeping olive tree, why are plant species so distinctive and readily identifiable, Asiatic Lion cubs in Fota Wildlife Park and Crab Spiders.

Duration:00:54:17

Keeping tabs on the world’s fastest creature . . . in Cobh

Mooney Goes Wild contributor Jim Wilson speaks to two men who have been monitoring the St. Colman falcons, Allan Farrell of BirdWatch Ireland’s Cork Branch and UCC graduate and BirdWatch Ireland raptor expert, Dr. Alan McCarthy.

Duration:00:26:27

Can birds regrow missing feathers?

Derek bumped into a gentleman called Ken in Dublin’s Herbert Park. He likes to feed the park’s Magpies, and recently noticed that one particularly aggressive individual had attacked one of his or her flock-mates, pulling out all of its tail feathers and wanted to know if these would grow back.

Duration:00:03:08

The mystery of the missing Moth

Eric gives us a teaser of what to expect from his documentary on the White Prominent in Co. Kerry and sheds some light on how one of the most enduring mysteries in Irish natural history was finally solved, as well as the appeal to naturalists of moths as a group.

Duration:00:06:56

White Swallows in West Cork

Margaret joins us on the phone from her home in West Cork to tell us all about the White Swallow. Our panellists discuss the reasons behind abnormal feather colouration in birds and get to the bottom of whether or not these Swallows are albino or leucistic individuals.

Duration:00:14:07

Mooney Goes Wild

Derek is joined by Eric Dempsey, Niall Hatch, Jim wilson, Allen Farrell and Alan McCarthy. Topics up for discussion include the White Swallow, mystery of the missing Moth, birds regrowing missing feathers and the Peregrine Falcons.

Duration:00:52:31

Zarafa the Giraffe

7/1/2024

Zarafa the Giraffe: In 1827, a new craze hit Europe, sparking a media and popular culture frenzy. Her name was Zarafa, and she was the first giraffe ever to set foot on French soil.

Duration:00:53:02

Dürer's Rhinoceros

6/24/2024

In this special one-hour Mooney Goes Wild documentary, we delve into the history of Dürer's Rhinoceros.

Duration:00:54:00

The Puffins

6/17/2024

We visit locations from the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare to the Westman Islands, off the southwestern coast of Iceland, to explore the beauty and astonishing adaptations of the Puffins, as well as to see how conservationists are trying to turn the tide so that these unique creatures can have a future.

Duration:00:53:40

Mooney Box of Docs- The Cuckoo

6/3/2024

Kicking of out first Series of Summer Docs, we look into the world of the Cuckoo. Produced and Presented by Derek Mooney- first broadcasted, Aug 2018

Duration:00:54:13

Identifyng Insects

We recieved an email from listener Aileen who was struggling to identify a number of insects coming into her home. We dispatched our Roving Reporter Terry Flanagan who Dr Hugh Feeley from Invertebrates and Insects Ireland to find out more about these insects.

Duration:00:01:59

International Bee Day

Eanna chats to Aoife Macgiollacoda, owner of Galtey Honey Farm and Co-founder of The Native Irish Honey Bee Society, to celebrate International Bee Day.

Duration:00:23:53

Listener Questions

Derek recievd an email from Michael Robinson in Co Dublin, asking why should we preserve Mosquitos, because they spread maleria and Wasps because they have an unpleasant sting. The panel explain the importance of these insects.

Duration:00:25:34

Mooney Goes Wild